Residents urge preserving green space as developers outline Triangle PUD plan

Developers for the Triangle property presented an initial planned‑unit development (PUD) concept that pulls buildings back from Lake Drive to create a greenbelt, routes a pedestrian retail pathway through the site and places structured parking below a raised central green at +6 feet that the team described as a terraced "theater of life." The presenters said the luxury building has been moved slightly to the south and will be a mass‑timber structure; detailed unit mixes and exact building locations will come during the next PUD phase.

"We're trying to create some relief along Lake Drive and set the buildings back a little bit, provide some green space," said Tim, a developer representative, describing pathway connections, terraced seating and proposed uses such as a farmers market or a dog park. The team also described an internal driveway to serve residential access and a daycare with dedicated parking.

Dozens of residents who spoke during the council's public hearing told the Common Council they were skeptical that additional tall apartment buildings are the right use for the Triangle. Laura Delane, who said she lives directly across from the Triangle, urged the council to "preserve some of the green space" and recommended small grocery or retail instead of more apartments. Several other speakers — including Julie Floriano and Kendall Fulmer — warned that recent vacant units nearby raise doubts that new luxury apartments would be occupied and said the city should prioritize retail and community amenities.

Other speakers raised financial and process questions. David Blahowit Howitz asked whether tax‑increment financing (TIF/TID) would draw from the entire city or be borne by a smaller district; council members said that any use of TIF would be addressed later in a development agreement and that the city would publish explanatory material about TIDs. Victor Moreno and others urged strict vetting of the contractor teams after noting multiple company names linked to a single address in online searches.

City staff and the mayor told the audience the council will not make a final decision on the initial PUD at this meeting. Staff said the next stage is the detailed PUD plan, with planning‑commission review expected when studies such as traffic and stormwater analyses are available. "We hope to have detailed PUD plans coming forth in December or January," the mayor said, and noted the code requires a subsequent development agreement that will be reviewed alongside financial analyses if TIF is considered.

What happens next: the city will watch for planning commission notice of the detailed PUD plan, when unit mixes, parking studies and stormwater work will be presented. Residents who asked for more outreach were told the city will post TID/TIF information in its newsletter and on the website so neighbors can better understand financing implications.